Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-19

Eye. The day was sombre one. A storm
Of sleet and snow was beating down. whicl
cold wind swept in the faces Of the man,
visitors to the State House. as they climbe,
the broad granite steps to the rotunda- Tn,
feeling of gloom that came from the cheer
less day without was intensified a. the visito
stepped into the darkened rotunda. Tn,
fountain in the centre of the room had beci
removed, and upon the site of it, between
the four large central pillars upon raiset
platform covered with black draperies.
The Catafalque
had been erected. TWAS covered with blacl
broadcloth and decorated with silver fringe
and silver stars. From the large chandelie
above, broad streamers of black Grape ant
white thibet festooned to opposite sides o.
the room formed canopy over the caltafal
que. The doors leading from the rotundl
were draped in Grape, with the exception Of
the main entrance, where two large flag
were used, caught in at the sides with crap,
loops. The windows were curtained with
hags. Festoons of black Grape and whit,
thibet hung about the sides Of the room. o.
the right side Of the rotunda, heavily drapet
in mourning, was a large crayon portait o.
Governor Bodwell The large pillars Of
the rotunda were encased in crane, and fes
tooned with smilax and silver stars.
The whole decoration of this room where
the dead Governor will lie in state until aftei
the public obsequies of Tuesday. is beauti
fully impressive, and sadly significant of the
great bereavement which has befalleu the
people of Maine. The corridors and stair
ways were draped in black. The
Council Chamber
where the late Governor presided so short
time ago, in health and strength, was also
filled with signs of mourning. The Govern
or's desk was draped in mourning and tn,
edges fringed with smilax. Upon the table
was the Governors ebony gavel, decorated
with white ribbons. In the Governors privat,
room, the same evidences of bereavemeL'
were seen. The table and chair were il
mourning, and the room looked mournfull,
silent and sad. The decorators were putting
the finishing touches upon the Represents
Stive's Hall. Above the Speakers Chair were
broad streamers of black Grape and white
thibet, which were beautifully festooned tt
the floor. The sides of the hall were alst
festooned with black and white. The whole
building was strangly silent. The visitor,
spoke in subdued tones, and came and went
in sad and quiet manner.
At half past eleven the Capital Guards il
full dress marched to the State House under
cammand of Capt. w. S. Choate, and tool
up their quarters in the committee room, un.
der the Governors private apartment. They
will remain at the Capitol to do guard duty
until after the public funeral Tuesday. Al
about one o'clock the command marched
from their quarters and formed at parade res,
on the West side of the rotunda; and few
moments later the procession reached the
State House. The casket containing the re.
mains of Gov. Bodwell was borne into the
rotunda and placed upon the catafalque, the
Masons escortng the body formed in line a,
the foot and side of the casket. Governor
Marble the Executive Council, and the
State officers were upon the opposite side
near the head of the casket. Then followed
the impressive Masonic funeral service, al
the close of which A. NJ. Spear, advancing
to the head of the casket addressed Govern
or Marble in the following words:
Your EIcetiency:
We appear before you today as Mssons
escorting to your care all that remains of a
loved and respected brother, whose form now
lies before us clothed in the habiliments of
death.
His immediate relatives and friends, in
grief and sorrow, have laid upon the altar OF
his memory their last sad tribute of love and
affection. And now we, charged with the
solemn duty imposed upon us by the mystic
ties of the order, and the request of hi'
friends, consign his body to the State for the
reception of those public honors to which
both as a citizen and its chief executive, he
is so justly entitled.
As a man he was of the highest character
spotless in integrity, unblemished in honor
boundless in generosity, using his wealtl
with lavish hand for the benefit of the com
munity and the welfare of the State.
As mason, he exemplified in his dali,
life and conduct those noble virtues which
the teachings of the order inculcate.
As an official, although called to the high
est position in the gift of his people withou
any desire on his part, for political prefer
,r,ap hop al nod tkn l,,tta
Governor with that same energy and yea
which had in so marked a degree character
lied his business career, devoting his YER
life to the progress and welfare of the State
His loss to the community, the fraternit
and the State, is one which time cannot re
pair nor the lapse of years efface.
But his life work is done. And now in be
half of his relatives and friends and thi
fraternity, deliver him through you to tn
care and custody of this commonwealth
which he loved and which loved him 90 well
To which Governor Marble made the fol
lowing response:
In behalf of the State of Maine, receiv
within its capitol, the remains of its believe
and lamented late Chief Magistrate.
Within these walls, one short year ago
Joseph X. Bodwell was inaugurated governu
of Maine. To-day the portals of the captt
are swung open to receive his lifeless form
that here for brief period it may lie i
state before we consign it to its last resting
place.
Living and dead, Maine honors this Nature
noblenan, whose character was as stron
and heart as true as the granite hills he cor
tended with and subdued. But in this hou
of our great sorrow there is one thought G
comfort; he died as the strong man alway
wishes to die, with the harness on, in tn
thickest of the fight, and in the full vigor o
life. He is dead; but the example he leave
of what poor boy, unaided. with only
strong arm and a brave heart, may accon
plish, will live to cheer and encourage th
youth of our State long after we of this ger
+ Grafton shall have crossed 1.-THE isthmus b.
1 tween the two oceans
He is at rest. Grandly has he fought th
battle of life to the end, and we may devou
by believe that the words, well "done, goo
4 and faithful servant" will be spoken to hi
bn Heaven, even as they are spoken of hi
Fin thousands of homes on earth.